It wouldn't really need to generate "significant" power. At least, not in terms of whole-home power. Something like this could easily generate and store enough power for an auxiliary system, something like overnight lighting. Basically the same principle as those solar lawn lamps, but for inside. Wire 'em all to a battery and a bunch of lights and light/motion sensors throughout the home, and you've got automatic nightlights that work even when the power's out.

[–] tpyo@lemmy.world 7 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

I have two sets of solar lights on my balcony that put out enough light to easily navigate by and it's one of the things in my place that was truly "set and forget". Having something passively collecting energy to use for later is nothing to sniff at

[–] reptar@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

I mean, hey, solar powered calculators may have legitimately advance technology timelines.

[–] i_need_your_bones@piefed.social 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Yeah exactly, not increadibly useful nothing groundbreaking but a very cool toy